Pages

Wednesday, 15 September 2010

Random links about the Papal Visit

Best article today has to be the Daily Mail's in-depth examination of the popemobile complete with explanatory picture. Teachers might be able to compose some good physics problems from some of those data - weight 5 tons, 0-60 in 6 seconds, top speed 160mph. I wonder if Jeremy Clarkson will get to play with one of these vehicles. He could have an ecumenical dialogue afternoon at Brands Hatch where the Stig drives five tons' worth of popemobile at 100mph into the Archbishop of Canterbury's Vauxhall Corsa to see which comes off best - or something.

On a more serious note, the respected John Allen writes: Benedict to step into buzz saw of dissent during upcoming UK visit. He also points out: "Secularism is famously Benedict’s bête noire, and he’s coming to the right place to engage it." He thinks that there is ground for hope because "any contact with Benedict at all usually improves his image, since the real man is inevitably less foreboding than the caricatures suggest." I think that is true, but for many ordinary people, the sheer weight of coverage, starting off with lovely pictures of the Pope and the Queen together, will trigger off popular enthusiasm despite all the metropolitan bile broadcast over recent days. Already the The Daily Mirror editorial has urged: Let Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Britain be a joyous trip.